Panelists Discuss the Future of U.S.- South Korean Economic and Political Relations

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) today held a discussion focused on the future of U.S./South Korea economic and political relations. The discussion was led by a panel of experts on Korea affairs, as topics ranging from the pending free trade agreement between the nations, KORUS, as well as the November U.S. presidential election, were discussed.

Topics covered by the panel also included a discussion about the opportunity America has to form a healthy alliance with South Korean President-elect Lee Myung-bak. Former U.S. marine, Bruce Bechtol, emphasized the economic gains an American-South Korean alliance could bring for each nation, particularly in the field of "information technology" for America.

The panelists agreed that Myung-bak is the right man to lead a beneficial Korean/ U.S. alliance. Charles "Jack" Pritchard, president of the Korea Economic Institute, cautioned that should Senator John McCain (R-AZ) become the next President of the United States, relations between each nation would likely deteriorate. Bechtol opined that future relations between America and South Korea seemed to be moving in the right direction.